Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 4 (2025)

Tomorrow’s Dreams: Left-Behind Children and Migration Effects on Their Future Aspirations

Shareena Chu | Jerica Miranda | Abbygaile Tapang | Paul Anthony S. Balagtas | Chillet G. Credo | Maica S. Pineda

Discipline: human geography

 

Abstract:

This study investigated how parental migration affected the future aspi-rations of left-behind children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Angeles City, Philippines. With a qualitative explanatory case study ap-proach, the research focused on understanding the impact of parental migration on future aspirations among students at Angeles University Foundation. Through semi-structured interviews with a purposively sampled group of three participants, the study explored the complex in-terplay of factors influencing their aspirations. Findings suggest that while parental migration introduces challenges like emotional distance and altered family dynamics, it also fosters resilience, financial opportu-nities, and a strong motivation, often linked to reciprocating parental sacrifices. Key themes emerging included navigating expectations and responsibilities, forging futures amidst parental absence, the duality of migration's impact (both positive and negative), and the crucial role of resilience and support systems. Support from various sources, including teachers and peers, appeared significant. While the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, this study emphasizes the im-portance for educators to provide targeted support addressing the unique educational and emotional needs of left-behind children. It con-tributes nuanced insights into the impact of migration on family dynam-ics and children's aspirations, emphasizing the need for strategies to support these children



References:

  1. Adams, W. (2015). Conducting semi-structured interviews. Handbook of Practical Educa-tion: Fourth Edition, 492-505. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171386.ch19
  2. Artajo, M.  2016. ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go Too?’:  Understanding  the  Employment Aspirations and Migration Trajectories of Left-Behind  Children  in  the  Philippines. Department  of  Labor  and  Employment -Institute for Labor Studies.
  3. Asi,  K.  (2024).  FACTORS  AND  INFLUENCE  OF OFW PARENTS OVER THEIR CHILDREN’S CAREER  CHOICE  AMONG  THE  GRADE  9 AND GRADE 10 STUDENTS IN THE PHIL-IPPINE  SCHOOL –ABI  DHABI  S.Y.  2019-2020. www.academia.edu. https://www.aca-demia.edu/49022973/FAC-TORS_AND_INFLUENCE_OF_OFW_PAR-ENTS_OVER_THEIR_CHILDREN_S_CA-REER_CHOICE_AMONG_THE_GRADE_9_AND_GRADE_10_STU-DENTS_IN_THE_PHILIP-PINE_SCHOOL_ABI_DHABI_S_Y_2019_2020
  4. Braun,  V.,  &  Clarke,  V.  (2006).  Using  thematic analysis   in   psychology.   Qualitative   re-search in psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
  5. Bryant, J. (2016). “Children of International Mi-grants in Indonesia, Thailand, and he Phil-ippines”.  Policies.  Working  Paper  Flor-ence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.
  6. Chang, F., Jiang, Y., Loyalka, P., Chu, J., Shi, Y., Os-born, A., & Rozelle, S. (2019). Parental mi-gration,   educational   achievement,   and mental  health  of  junior  high  school  stu-dents  in  rural  China. China  Economic  Re-view. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHIECO.2019.01.007
  7. Campos,  R.,  &  Distor,  J.  (2020).  The  perspec-tives  of  senior  high  school  students  with overseas   Filipino   worker   parents.   Psy-chology   and   Education   (2021) 58(4): 1639-1644
  8. Fellmeth, G., Rose-Clarke, K., Zhao, C., Busert, L. K.,  Zheng,  Y.,  Massazza,  A.,  Sonmez,  H., Eder,  B.,  Blewitt,  A.,  Lertgrai,  W.,  Orcutt, M.,  Ricci,  K.,  Mohamed-Ahmed,  O.,  Burns, R.,  Knipe,  D.,  Hargreaves,  S.,  Hesketh,  T., Opondo,   C.,   &   Devakumar,   D.   (2018). Health  impacts  of  parental  migration  on left-behind  children  and  adolescents:  A systematic    review    and    meta-analysis. Lancet   (London,   England), 392(10164), 2567–2582. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32558-3
  9. Gao, Y., Li, L.P., Kim, J.H., & et al. (2010). The im-pact  of  parental  migration  on  health  sta-tus  and  health  behaviors  among  left  be-hind  adolescent  school  children  in  China. BMC Public Health, 10, 56. Chu et al., 2025 /Tomorrow’s Dreams: Left-Behind Children and Migration Effects on Their Future AspirationIJMABER2044Volume 6| Number 4| April|2025 https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-56
  10. Huang, Y., Song, Q., Tao, R. and Liang, Z. (2018). Migration,  family  arrangement,  and  chil-dren’s health in China. Child Dev, 89: e74-e90. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12699
  11. Janson,  S.  (2014).  Children  left  behind.  Acta Paediatrica, 103. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.12649.
  12. Jokhan, M. (2008). Parental absence as a conse-quence of migration: Reviewing the litera-ture.  Social  and  Economic  Studies, 57(2), 89–117. http://www.jstor.org/sta-ble/27866552
  13. Lobos, J., & Juliata, B., & Peñalba, B. (2022). Con-sequences of parental absence due to mi-gration: A qualitative inquiry into adoles-cent students’ well-being./publica-tion/340789155_Consequences_of_Pa-rental_Absence_due_to_Migra-tion_A_Qualitative_Inquiry_into_Adoles-cent_Students’_Well-being.pdf
  14. McShane, B. (2019).Psychology  of Career De-velopment  (9th  ed.).  Thousand  Oaks,  CA: SAGE Publications.
  15. Sheppard, V. (2020). Research Methods for the Social  Sciences:An  Introduction.  Press-books. https://pressbooks.bccam-pus.ca/jibcresearchmethods/
  16. Simons,  M.,  Ziviani,  J.,  &  Copley,  J.  (2011).  Ex-planatory  case  study  design:  application in  paediatric  burns  health  services  re-search.  International  journal  of  therapy and rehabilitation, 18, 250-257. https://doi.org/10.12968/IJTR.2011.18.5.250.
  17. Survey  on  Overseas  Filipinos  |  Philippine  Sta-tistics  Authority  |  Republic  of  the  Philip-pines. (2023, October 11).T
  18. aola, M., Sagdi, L. J., Millado, E., Harun, N. A., & Alviar, J. (2024). Academic challenges and coping  mechanisms  among  senior  high school   students   with   overseas   Filipino worker  parents.  International  Journal  of Multidisciplinary:  Applied  Business  and Education Research, 5(2), 457-466. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijma-ber.05.02.08
  19. Tesfaw,  G.,  &  Minaye,  A.  (2022).  Impact  of  pa-rental migration on education and behav-ioural outcomes of children left behind in Southern  Wollo.  International  Journal  of Education   and   Literacy   Studies, 10(2), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.10n.2p.122
  20. Thorhallsson, B. (2017). The conceptual frame-work. The History and Sociology of Geno-cide. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315237268-10.
  21. Unay, T. A., & Villosino, R. P. (2023). Abandoned but  not  forsaken:  From  the  stories  of  pu-pils  with  parents  working  abroad.  EPRA International Journal of Research and De-velopment (IJRD), 8(7), 245-252.
  22. Wilson, C. (2014). Semi-Structured Interviews., 23-41.   https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-410393-1.00002-8

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic